Cangolf Am on

MANILA, Philippines - The cream of the country’s amateur crop and a host of rising stars from the junior ranks slug it out beginning today as the Canlubang Amateur Open Golf Championship gets under way at Cangolf’s north and south courses in Laguna.

Jhonnel Ababa tries to atone for his missed cut stint in last week’s Asian Amateur Championship as he opens his title-retention bid in the 54-hole tournament which lured members of the national pool plus the leading lady players from the ICTSI golf stable.

Also in the fold are former national titlist Mhark Fernando and fellow ICTSI-Cangolf teammate Jerson Balasabas while Junior World champion Rupert Zaragoza, Miguel Tabuena and Jobim Carlos head the roster of the young turks.

The ICTSI-The Country Club’s lineup is led by former Hong Kong Am winner Dante Becierra, Peter Villaber, Sonny Villaber, Chuckie Hong, Justin Limjap, Alexes Nallos, Brent Sumampong, Irwin Madrileno, Reymon Jaraula and Zanieboy Gialon.

Former RP Open Ladies champion Jayvie Agojo also makes her keenly-awaited return to the local golf scene as she banners the ladies field that includes ICTSI teammates Lovelynn Guioguio, Daniela Uy, Andie Unson, Sarah Ababa and Geleen Handog.

The event, hosted by Cangolf as part of its commitment to help amateur golf and sponsored by The Turf Company and Pacsports Phils., also features 36-hole competitions in Classes A (11 below), B (12-20) and C (21 and above) and the ladies category (Open) to be played in the last two days of the tournament.

Other backers of the event are ICTSI, Dynamic Sports, Inc., Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc., GolfWorx, Jose Ma. Hechanova, Rudy Project, Greenlink Trading, Otsuka (Phils) Pharmaceutical, Inc., MayCar Foods, Inc., Merlo Agricultural Corp., Mesaland Dev’t. Corp., Nature’s Spring, Pilipinas Golfbag Mfg., San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Seamecor, Inc., and Whealth, Inc..